Background: Vaccines, that target human papillomavirus (HPV) high risk genotypes 16 and 18, have recently been developed. This study was aimed at determining genotypes commonly found in high-risk and multiple-HPV infections in Jamaican women. Two hundred and fifty three (253) women were enrolled in the study. Of these, 120 pregnant women, aged 15-44 years, were recruited from the Ante Natal Clinic at the University Hospital of the West Indies and 116 nonpregnant, aged 19-83, from a family practice in Western Jamaica. Cervical cell samples were collected from the women and HPV DNA was detected using Polymerase Chain Reaction and Reverse Line Hybridization. HPV genotypes were assessed in 236 women. Data were collected from

Background: Disparities in cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates exist among women of African ancestry (African-American, African-Caribbean and African). Persistent cervical infection with Human papillomavirus (HPV) is associated with cervical dysplasia and if untreated, could potentially progress to invasive cervical cancer. Very few studies have been conducted to examine the true prevalence of HPV infection in this population. Comparisons of cervical HPV infection and the type-specific distribution of HPV were performed between cancer-free Caribbean and US women.

The objective of the study was to investigate the short-term impact of a brief lifestyle intervention of yoga and traditional Physical Training (PT) exercise regimens on: serum insulin, percentage insulin binding receptor, internalization of insulin-receptor complex, T3, T4, TSH and cortisol at baseline, 3 months and 6 months in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. A total of 231 patients completed this prospective randomized study with 77 type 2 diabetic patients in the yoga group (62 females and 15 males) that were matched with the same number of patients in the traditional Physical Training (PT) exercise and control groups. Biochemical parameters such as fasting Blood Glucose (FBG), serum insulin, percentage insulin binding receptor and internalization of insulin-receptor complex were determined at the beginning (baseline) and two consecutive three monthly intervals. The effect of the lifestyle interventions on hormones such as cortisol, TSH, T4 and T3 were also investigated. The FBG concentration in the yoga and the traditional PT exercise groups were markedly decreased compared with control (P < 0.05). The percentage of insulin binding receptor increased in the yoga and traditional PT exercise groups at the sixth month when compared to baseline and this parameter in the traditional PT exercise group differs significantly from that of the control group at the six month (P = 0.024). There was no significant difference in the percentage of internalization of the insulin receptor complex amongst the three groups (P = 0.465). There was no significant change in T3, T4, TSH or cortisol in any of the three groups over the six month period (P > 0.05). The findings indicates the beneficial effects of yoga and traditional PT exercise regimens in improving glycaemic control by increasing percentage insulin binding receptor in type 2 diabetic patients with no significant change in cortisol and thyroid hormones

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Introduction: NICE Clinical Guideline 144 recommends that patients with an unprovoked VTE, who do not have signs or symptoms of cancer on initial investigation, be considered for further investigation with an abdomino-pelvic CT to exclude occult malignancy. This study aimed to evaluate numbers of scans performed in a UK teaching hospital and outcomes, following this recommendation. Methods: Retrospective review of CT scans performed before and after publication of the NICE guidance in 2012. CT reports and case notes were analysed. Type and stage of malignancy, treatment and other relevant findings were documented. For the 2014 data set, all incidental radiological findings and follow-up recommendations were reviewed. Results: The annual number of CT scans requested for “unprovoked VTE”, rose by 142% following publication of NICE Clinical Guideline 144. In the 2011 – 2012 data set, 21 patients were included, one of which was found to have a malignancy, which was clinically overt at the time of diagnosis i.e. not occult. Five patients (23.8%) had incidental findings requiring further investigation. In the 2014 –2015 data set, 51 patients were included, five (9.8%) of which were found to have malignancy. In retrospect, all showed signs/symptoms of potential malignancy on initial investigation. No occult malignancies were detected in the patients correctly referred. Incidental findings warranting further investigation were reported in ten cases (19.6%). On review, follow-up advice was deemed incorrect in four of these. Conclusion: Addition of an abdomino-pelvic CT scan in patients with a first unprovoked VTE and no signs or symptoms of cancer on initial investigation, significantly increased the number of scans and incidental findings, but did not pick up any additional occult malignancies.